Heika: Here's the full schedule for the 20th anniversary team announcements

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AP Photo/John Hayes

4. Derian Hatcher — It’s tough to measure Hatcher’s impact, because he only tallied 294 points in 827 games played, but the big, physical defenseman was not only captain during the Stars’ finest seasons ever, he also was a huge part of their identity. His leaping elbow to break the jaw of Jeremy Roenick as an answer to an earlier hit that Roenick had put on Mike Modano sent waves of confidence through the team and may have been one of the most important moments of the 1999 Stanley Cup championship season.

Published: 22 March 2013 06:10 PM

Updated: 22 March 2013 06:10 PM

Stars beat writer Mike Heika answered questions in a chat on Thursday. Here are some highlights.

What are the Stars' plans with Eric Nystrom? He seems to be a good fit on the ice and in the room. A bright, hard-working veteran who can do a lot of things well. Do you think the Stars would like to re-sign him? He seems like just the type of veteran you'd like to have leading the youngsters along over the next few years.

I think they are trying to get him re-signed, but I think they are probably trying to hold the budget tight, as well. If the superstars of this league are going to make $7 or $8 million a year (and it seems they are), then you have to trim money in other places. Nystrom clearly believes in himself and believes he could get signed to a solid free agent contract (look at Adam Burish last summer), so it's just a matter of finding the right price point for both sides. Nystrom wants to stay. The Stars want to keep him. But what is the price point that will keep him from exploring free agency? That's where they are right now.

Has Zubov been announced to the 20th anniversary team? If not, when will he be part of the 20th anniversary team? What has he been doing since he left the team years ago?

I was going to post this list today, so good question. Here is when they are scheduled to honor the next members of the 20th Anniversary Team, and as of now, all of these players are expected to be there in person. March 25 – Darryl Sydor; March 29 – Mike Modano; March 31 – Brett Hull; April 9 – Ed Belfour; April 13 – Derian Hatcher; April 18 – Sergei Zubov. After he did not get the contract he wanted in the NHL, Zubov headed back to Russia to play in the KHL. He battled injuries and eventually retired and went into coaching. Former Stars GM Doug Armstrong (now GM in St. Louis) hired Zubov as a consultant, and Zubov now lives in New York and helps the Blues.

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